"The Land of Far Beyond" by Enid
Blyton (Methuen, 1942), is long
gone, but recently I located a site
on the net featuring the book. It is
complete with the aforementioned
illustration, showing "The City of
Happiness". Undoubtedly, there
had been some morphing of the
image in my mind during the inter-
vening years, but the associations
between it and this radio shone
through brightly!
Examples of similar "shining city"
themes in the literature include
Blyton (Methuen, 1942), is long
gone, but recently I located a site
on the net featuring the book. It is
complete with the aforementioned
illustration, showing "The City of
Happiness". Undoubtedly, there
had been some morphing of the
image in my mind during the inter-
vening years, but the associations
between it and this radio shone
through brightly!
Examples of similar "shining city"
themes in the literature include
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Copyright TubeRadioLand.com
Crosley Model 179 Art Deco "Dual Seventy" Tombstone Radio (1934)
The Crosley model 179 tombstone radio was one of 13 new
sets introduced in January of 1934 at Crosley's annual sales
convention held in Cincinnati. The sets, referred to as "Ultra
Moderne" by Crosley, rounded out the company's 1934 line
announced previously in 1933. The model 179 is unquestion-
ably among the finest of Crosley's creations. It features ex-
quisite book-matched golden veneers of Nyssa wood, with
ebony contrasts and fluted silver embellishments. The cab-
inetwork mirrors the finest architectural elements of its day
and is for sure Art Deco at its best!
From the first moment I saw a photograph of this radio, it has
inspired the impression of a shining city upon a hill, an
association I realize traces back to an illustration I saw in a
storybook as a young child. My copy of the book, entitled
sets introduced in January of 1934 at Crosley's annual sales
convention held in Cincinnati. The sets, referred to as "Ultra
Moderne" by Crosley, rounded out the company's 1934 line
announced previously in 1933. The model 179 is unquestion-
ably among the finest of Crosley's creations. It features ex-
quisite book-matched golden veneers of Nyssa wood, with
ebony contrasts and fluted silver embellishments. The cab-
inetwork mirrors the finest architectural elements of its day
and is for sure Art Deco at its best!
From the first moment I saw a photograph of this radio, it has
inspired the impression of a shining city upon a hill, an
association I realize traces back to an illustration I saw in a
storybook as a young child. My copy of the book, entitled
The "dual seventy" model 179 is a two band 7-tube receiver
covering standard broadcast from 540-1700kc and police/
amateur/aviation bands from 1645-4300kc. The tube line-up
is 58 (RF amp), 58 (mixer/LO), 58 (IF amp), 56 (2nd detector/
AVC), 56 (AF amp), 2A5 (AF output) and 80 (rectifier). The
schematic is available here, courtesy of NostalgiaAir.
covering standard broadcast from 540-1700kc and police/
amateur/aviation bands from 1645-4300kc. The tube line-up
is 58 (RF amp), 58 (mixer/LO), 58 (IF amp), 56 (2nd detector/
AVC), 56 (AF amp), 2A5 (AF output) and 80 (rectifier). The
schematic is available here, courtesy of NostalgiaAir.
..you will be surprised what far away stations you'll get on your Crosley.
the "Emerald City" in Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizzard
of Oz (published in 1900) and the "Celestial City" in John Bun-
yan's "Pilgrim's Progress" (first published in 1678).
of Oz (published in 1900) and the "Celestial City" in John Bun-
yan's "Pilgrim's Progress" (first published in 1678).
| "Designed to appeal specifically to those who appreciate and admire the daring brilliancy of modern art" |
Shown to the right is a clipping
from the Jan 26th 1934 edition
of the San Antonio Light, desc-
ribing the introduction of the
Crosley Ultra-Moderne Models
earlier that month.
from the Jan 26th 1934 edition
of the San Antonio Light, desc-
ribing the introduction of the
Crosley Ultra-Moderne Models
earlier that month.
continued in next column..
| "created for a definite market, a market that insists upon brilliancy and boldness as well as good taste" Powell Crosley Jr. |
The chassis of my receiver is shown in the photo immediately above. It is missing the multi-tube shield that should be attached to the rear.